Prop. 226: a Threat to Democracy

By H. Engstrom

Prop. 226, which would require unions to obtain written permission from members to spend funds for political objectives, is more than an "anti-worker" initiative. It is a threat to democracy itself.

Would YOU be better off living in a ONE-PARTY STATE?

Prop. 226 masquerades as "campaign finance reform," and includes a few provisions such as a ban on political contributions from foreign sources that are already prohibited under federal law.

More importantly, Prop. 226 would effectively deny the right of democratically elected officials of labor unions from contributing to political campaigns that those officials judge to be in the best interests of their members. The undemocratically elected leaders of corporate interests (one vote per share of stock is NOT democracy) would face no such restrictions.

Democratic Party campaigns receive most of their funds and workers from labor unions. Business interests, which overwhelmingly support Republicans, already outspend labor by about 11 to 1. If Prop. 226 passes, the Democratic Party would be irreparably crippled leaving us effectively in a one-party state.

Democracy requires much more than simply the existence of choices on the electoral ballot. It requires knowledge about those choices, knowledge that can only come from active and vigorous championing of those choices by committed partisans - Democrats and Republicans.

Prop. 226 would severely restrict just such knowledge and just such choice. It is no exaggeration to say that Prop. 226 threatens democracy in California. All concerned citizens who want to preserve the principles upon which this nation was founded will vote NO on Prop. 226.